Testing form: A pretty perfect test with only a few minor problems saw them clock up 2,284km, 600km more than next best Sauber. They focused on reliability not pace, limiting soft tyre runs, but Nico Rosberg still managed to beat last year’s top Jerez test in just 11 laps.

Our expert writers are giving us their reviews of 2014.

Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates with his team after winning the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit

We asked our expert writers to give us their take on a memorable year in sport, as well as asking for their hope for 2015.

Here Will Gray picks his selection.

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Best memory of the year

Hailed as the best World Cup in history, Brazil's festival of football was high in drama, from the never-say-die desire of Team USA to Luis Suarez knocking out England and Brazil being hammered 7-1 by Germany. All made better with a big screen, bbq and good summer weather, it was just a shame the world's best player didn't turn up on final night.

Rankings are based on statistics (qualifying performance, race performance and multi-team success) and opinions (entertainment, ruthlessness and determination, strategy and technical skills and teamwork). To deliver noticeable differences,

The engineer who masterminded Lewis Hamilton's second world title has defected. Will Gray looks at how badly will he really be missed.

The departure of Jock Clear from Lewis Hamilton’s engineering team at Mercedes will leave a big void to fill in 2015 – but in modern day F1, can one man make such a difference?

This season saw Hamilton mature as a racing driver both on and off the track and a big part of that was down to the team built around him. From his fitness trainer to his race engineer, the Mercedes management have developed a settled core for the British star, one that has become so respected by him that the family entourage he used to take everywhere with him was often left behind this year.

Will Gray continues his look back at the top 20 F1 drivers of all time.

Rankings are based on statistics (qualifying performance, race performance and multi-team success) and opinions (entertainment, ruthlessness and determination, strategy and technical skills and teamwork). To deliver noticeable differences, values awarded are relative to those within the group not to all Grand Prix racers.

Qualifying performance: Based on pole-to-race ratio, with extra consideration given to those with high ratio and high number of races, as this is harder to achieve.

Race performance: Based on win-to-race ratio, with extra consideration given to those with high ratio and high

Will Gray continues his look back at the top 20 F1 drivers of all time.

Rankings are based on statistics (qualifying performance, race performance and multi-team success) and opinions (entertainment, ruthlessness and determination, strategy and technical skills and teamwork). To deliver noticeable differences, values awarded are relative to those within the group not to all Grand Prix racers.

Qualifying performance: Based on pole-to-race ratio, with extra consideration given to those with high ratio and high number of races, as this is harder to achieve.

Race performance: Based on win-to-race ratio, with extra consideration given to those with high ratio and high

More than 800 drivers have participated in Grand Prix weekends since the dawn of F1 in 1950.

McLaren's Mika Hakkinen of Finland has champagne poured down his back by teammate David Coulthard

More than 800 drivers have participated in Grand Prix weekends since the dawn of F1 in 1950. Some became legends, others disappeared without trace – but who are the best 20 ever to hit the track?

In the first or a new four-part series, we look at numbers 20-16. But first, an explanation on how we rated each legend...

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Rankings are based on statistics (qualifying performance, race performance and multi-team success) and opinions (entertainment, ruthlessness and determination, strategy and technical skills and teamwork). To deliver noticeable differences, values awarded are relative to

Lewis Hamilton is under pressure, while Caterham's backs are against the wall - F1 expert Will Gray takes a look at what we learned in Brazil.

It may have only been seven points Lewis Hamilton lost to Nico Rosberg in Brazil, but it could have a crucial bearing on the championship in more ways than one.

Firstly, the pressure was on Rosberg after being squarely beaten by Hamilton in the previous five races, and he desperately needed to recover some confidence by proving he had the tenacity of a genuine title contender.

With double points up for grabs in the last race of the season, the title battle was going to go to the wire whatever happened - but this was all about mind games.

About Will Gray

Award-winning sports journalist Will Gray has worked in and around Formula One for more than a decade, providing detailed technical insight as well as live news reports and features for newspapers such as the Daily Telegraph and Daily Star, AFP and Reuters news agencies and a variety of magazines. He has also worked as an F1 expert on TalkSPORT and Irish radio.